Isack Hadjar has completed the Formula 1 grid for next season, as the Frenchman is going to race for the RB team.
RB’s new driver has been a Red Bull junior since 2022 and is becoming teammates with Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda, who has links to the team’s engine manufacturer, Honda.
Hadjar is getting an opportunity in Formula 1, but he has lacked some composure behind the wheel at times, as he occasionally rants on the radio.
Dr Helmut Marko warned Hadjar he needs to keep calm otherwise, he will suffer when racing at the highest level.
Hadjar had strong competition for the seat against Franco Colapinto, who raced in nine events for Williams this season.
The link with Red Bull was a key reason why Hadjar was selected. RB has a history of promoting young drivers linked with the Austrian team. World champions Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen honed their craft with the Italian outfit.
Hadjar had some very difficult moments on his road to Formula 1 as he ascended the multitude of junior series from French F4 up to Formula 2.
Isack Hadjar missed out on the Formula 2 championship to Gabriel Borteleto
Formula 2 is incredibly competitive and has been developing F1 drivers since it was introduced in 2005, known as the GP2 Series.
Hadjar spent two years in the championship after narrowly missing out on the Formula 3 title in 2022 after crashing in qualifying at Monza.
The Frenchman spent his first year adapting to a much more powerful car, but there were already moments of brilliance, such as a podium in Austria.
READ MORE: Formula 1 paddock believes RB may sign Yuki Tsunoda ‘2.0’ if they have a free seat for 2025
This season was a step forward with a new car and talented rookies such as Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Gabriel Bortoleto to race against.
Hadjar headed into the final round in Abu Dhabi, just half a point behind the championship leader, Bortoleto. The gap extended further in the Sprint Race as the Brazilian took second place ahead of Hadjar in fifth.
The championship was still alive with one race to go, but disaster struck as Hadjar stalled on the grid, ending his title hopes.
| 1 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Invicta Racing | 214.5 |
| 2 | Isack Hadjar | Campos Racing | 192 |
| 3 | Paul Aron | Hitech Pulse-Eight | 163 |
| 4 | Zane Maloney | Rodin Motorsport | 140 |
Hadjar was livid and described the incident as “the worst moment of my life” on the team radio as Bortoleto was given a clear run to the title.
The Campos driver went a lap down but had good pace to match his title rival on the track, which may have been a small mental victory.
After the race and in the shadow of Bortoleto’s jubilant celebrations, Hadjar explained he wasn’t too sad about not taking the title as an issue took his chance away.
He told RedBull.com: “The first time in my F2 career I stalled, the engineers still don’t know where the issue came from, I was good on my procedure.
“I still wanted to do the race to show my pace. And like expected, the pace was insane, quickest on track on both compounds. I’m not upset losing the title, I’m upset that I didn’t get the opportunity to fight for it.”
It was a difficult day for Hadjar, who had been blisteringly fast all season in Formula 2. However, he will have another chance to race Bortoleto in 2025 as the pair step up to F1 with Sauber and RB.
Isack Hadjar will have to keep calm next season at RB
He will make his Formula 1 debut at the Australian Grand Prix next season as an RB driver and will likely be in the chaos of the midfield.
Hadjar has had some outbursts on the radio over his junior career, which will need to be toned down as much more attention will be paid to RB’s new driver than before.
Tsunoda was similarly chaotic during his rookie season at AlphaTauri in 2021, with some errors that have since been refined.
Hadjar may have a similar style, but his pure pace will need to be there from the outset, and the factors surrounding his driving can be refined.
Leave feedback about this